Cap closure



July 27 1926. 1,593,847

. J. 5. REID CAP CLO SURE Filed June 1924 Patented July 27, 1926.

UNITED (STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

JAMES S. REID, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE EASY-ON CAP COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

GAP CLOSURE.

Application filed June 19, 1924.- Serial No. 721,122.

This invention relates to closure structures, such as are used in connection with the fuel tanks and the radiators of motor vehicles and the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a closure structure of the type comprising a closure member adapted for locking engagement with a tubular {)nember upon relative rotation of said memers.

One object of the present invention is to provide an im roved closure structure of the type descrlbed in which the tubular member is provided with inclined portions differing in pitch for facilitating the application and the removal of the closure member to and from the tubular member.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for securing the lockin member to the closure, which means not on y facilitates the construction of the closure but materially improves its appearance.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear 'more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawing, which represents one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view of the closure; Fig. 2 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 22,

Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the closure applied to a tubular member, the view being taken on the line 33, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the closure; and Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively a plan and a vertical sectional view of the tubular member.

While the present closure structure is adapted for use with structures of various kinds, the drawing shows the closure structure applied to a fuel tank 1 having a filling openin 2. 3 represents an upwardl extending lling tube or neck member, whic may be an integral part of the fuel tank or, as shown in the drawing, a separate member having a base flange 4 for securing said tube to that portion of the tank surrounding the opening 2. At the upper end of said tube is an inwardly extending flange 5 and spaced inner depending flanges 6, two substant1ally semi-circular depending flanges being here shown. Flange 5, is cut back between said flanges 6, sothat spaces or passageways 7 are provided through flange 5 and between depending flanges .6, through which passagepoints with a dwell or seat 9 and beyond the same with a dependingprojection or stop portion 10. i

The closure adapted for locking engagement with the filling tube 3 comprises a substantially circular top portion 11 and a depending annular marginal flange or skirt portion l2 adapted to snugly surround the fillin tube when the closure is applied thereto. rim ed or otherwise suitably secured in said 0 osure member against the inner marginal face of the top portion 11 is a substantially flat annular member 13, provided along its inner edge with two substantially semi-circular upwardly extending portions 14. To these portions are permanently secured, such as by a crimping operation, 0 posed edge portions of the substantially circular base 16 of the locking spring member of the closure. Extending downwardly and outwardly from the base of said locking member between the substantially semi-circular crimping portions 14 of the annular member 13 are two diametrically opposed resilient fingers 17, formed integral with said base and provided at their outer ends with outwardly extending curved foot portions 18, which are adapted to engage the cam portions 8 of the filling tube, as will later appear.

At the junction of the base 16 and each of the resilient fingers 17 of the locking member, a sheared portion 19 is preferably struck up, which portions brace said fingers and distribute the strain at these junction points, so that the danger of the resilient fingers tearing from the spring base is eliminated or at least, minimized. These sheared portions also provide bafiled vent openings 20 through the locking spring. The top portion 11 of the cap member is formed with a centrally disposed uniformly curved dome portion 21, so as to provide an air chamber 22 between the top portion 11 and the base 16 of the locking member. Said dome portion is provided with a centrally disposed Vent opening 23 for communication with the outside atmosphere, the air in the fuel tank 1 being permitted to pass through the filler tube 3 and the openings 20 formed by the sheared portions 19 to the air chamber 22 and thence through opening 23 to the atmosphere.

The closure is preferably provided with an annular gasket 24, which may be of cork, leather or other suitable material, said gasket being held in place within the marginal flange or skirt portion 12 and against the inner face of the annular member 13 by the outwardly extending foot portions 18 of the resilient locking fingers 17. When the closure is in locked position, as indicated in Fig. 3, said gasket lies between the inwardly extending flange 5 of the filler tube 3 and the inner face of the member 13, thereby sealing the filling tube opening against the escape of gasolene or other contents of the fuel tank 1.

In applying the closure to the filling tube 3, the resilient fingers 17 of the locking member are passed through the spaces or passageways 7. Theclosure is then turned or rotated forwardly, the foot portions 18 of the fingers riding along the slow pitch cam faces 8, gradually seating the closure with increased ressure of the gasket upon flange 5 of the filling tube. The closure may be turned until the foot portions 18 of the resilient fingers strike the depending stop portions 10, at which point said foot portions will rest upon the dwell portions 9, where they are yieldingly held against accidental escape. To remove the. closure, it is turned in the reverse direction, whereupon the foot portions of the spring fingers are forcibly ejected from the dwell portions 9 and ride down the slow pitch cam faces, gradually relieving the pressure until said foot portions reach the spaces 7, whereupon the closure may be lifted bodilyvvfrom the filling tube.

To facilitate and insure quick application and removal of the closure to and from the filling tube, the flanges 6 of'the latter are each provided at one end with a quick pitch cam portion 25, which portions are spaced from the starting points of the slow pitch cam portions 8 by the spaces 7. In the specific embodiment here shown, these quick pitch inclined portions 25 at the end edges of the depending flanges 6 are inclined forwardly and downwardly with respect to the direction of rotation in applying the clo sure. If, in applying the closure, the foot portions 18 of the spring fingers 17 engage these inclined quick pitch portions, they are immediately directed toward the starting points of the slow pitch cam portions 8.

When the closure is rotated reversely toremove the same, the foot portions '18 of the spring fingers 17 ride down the slow pitch cam portion 8, cross the spaces 7 and im mediately encounter the quick pitch cam portions 25 which direct said foot portions upwardly through spaces 7 and thereby accomplish physical separation of the closure from the tubular member without any necessity of conscious effort to that end by the operator.

What I claim is:

1. A closure structure, comprising a tubular member and a closure member, said tubularmember being provided with relatively slow pitch cam means, said closure member being provided with a locking member adapted for engagement with said cam means upon relative rotary movement of said closure and tubular members, said tubular member being also provided with relatively quick pitch cam means adjacent the starting point of said slow pitch cam means for cooperation with said locking member for rapidly throwing the closure member outwardly from the tubular member upon reverse relative rotary movement of the closure and tubular members.

2. A closure, comprising a skirted outer wall structure, and an inner wall structure entirely within the same, said wall structures being separated so as to provide an air chamber therebetween, said inner wall structure comprising a locking member and a separate supporting member therefor, said supporting member being secured within the outer wall structure by acrimping operation, said outer wall structure being provided with a vent opening for establishing communication between said air chamber and the atmosphere, and said inner wall structure being also provided with a vent opening for.

establishing communication between said air chamber and the inside of the closure.

3. A closure, comprising an outer wall structure and an inner wall structure, said wall structures being separated so as to provide an air chamber therebetween, said inner wall structure comprising a locking member and a separate supporting member therefor, said supporting member being secured to said outer wall structure by a crimping operation, and said locking member being secured to said supporting member by a crimping operation, said outer wall structure being provided with a vent opening for establishing communication between said air chamber and the atmosphere, and said inner wall structure being also "provided with a ventopening for establishing communication between said air chamber and the inside of the closure.

4. A closure, comprising an outer wall structure and an inner wall structure, said wall structures being separated so as to provide an air chamber therebetween, said outer wall structure comprising a top portion and a depending skirt portion, said inner wall structure comprising a locking member and aseparate supporting member therefor said supporting member being secured to the outer wall structure at the junction of the top and skirt portions thereof, said outer wall structure being provided with a vent opening for establishing communication between said air chamber and the atmosphere, and said inner wall structure being also provided. with a vent opening for establishing communication between said air chamber and the inside of said closure.

5. A closure, comprising an outer wall structure and an inner wall structure, said wall structures being separated so as to provide an air chamber therebetween, said outer wall structure comprising a top portion and a depending skirt portion, said inner wall structure comprising a locking'member and a separate supporting member therefor, said supporting member being secured by a crimping operation to the outer Wall structure at the junction of the top and skirt portions thereof, said outer wall structure being provided with a vent opening for establish-ing communication between said air chamber and the atmosphere, and said inner wall structure being also provided with a vent opening for establishing communication between said air chamber and the in side of the closure.

6. A closure, comprising an outer wall structure and an inner wall structure, said structures being separated so as to provide an air chamber therebetween, said inner wall structure comprising. a locking member and a substantially flat separate supporting member therefor, said locking member having a substantially flat body portion, said outer wall structure being provided with a vent opening for establishing communication between said air chamber and the atmosphere, and said inner wall structure being also provided with a vent opening for establishing communication between said air chamber and the inside of the closure.

7. A closure, comprising an outer wall structure and an inner wall structure, said outer wall structure including a top portion and a depending skirt portion, said inner wall structure including a locking member and a separate supporting member therefor, said supporting member being secured against the top portion of said outer wall structure by bending under said supporting member a portion of the material of the skirt portion of said outer wall structure.

8. A closure, comprising an outer wall structure and an inner wall structure, said wall structures being separated so as to provide an air chamber tlierebetween, said outer wall structure including a top portion and a depending skirt portion, said inner wall structure including a supporting member and a separate inherently resilient locking member extending outwardly therefrom, said supporting member being secured to the outer wall structure at the junction of the top and skirt portions thereof, said outer wall structure being provided with a vent opening for establishing communication between said air chamber and the outside atmosphere and said inner wall structure being provided witha vent opening for establishing communication between said air chamber and the inside of the closure.

9. A closure, comprising an outer wall structure and an inner wall structure, said wall structures being separated so as to provide an air chamber therebetween, said inner wall structure including a locking member and a separate supporting member, both of said members serving as a part of the inner wall for said air chamber, said supporting member being secured to the outer wall structure, said outer wall structure being provided with a vent opening for establishing communication between said air chamber and the outside atmosphere, and said inner wall structure being provided with a vent opening for establishing communication between said air chamber and the inside of the closure.

10. A closure, comprising an outer wall structure and an inner wall structure, said wall structures being separated so as to provide an air chamber therebetween, said inner wall structure including a locking member and a separate supporting member therefor, said supporting member being secured to the outer wall structure and said locking member being secured to the supporting member by a crimping operation, said outer wall structure being provided with a vent opening for establishing communication between said air chamber and the outside atmosphere and said inner wall structure beingprovided with a vent opening for establishing communication between said air chamber and the inside of the closure.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

J AM'ES S. REID. 

